Barry George loses legal compensation bid over wrongful conviction of Jill Dando murder | UK | News | Daily Express UK Barry George loses legal compensation bid over wrongful conviction of Jill Dando murder THE man wrongly convicted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, has lost his legal battle for compensation as a victim of a "miscarriage of justice". 11:13, Tue, Jul 9, 2013 Barry George spent eight years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of Jill Dando Barry George deserved up to £500,000 after wrongly ­spending eight years in jail, his lawyers argued at the Court of Appeal today. However, Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin rejected his claim that the Justice Secretary unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated". They ruled that the Secretary of State was "entirely justified in the conclusion he reached". The latest legal move at the Court of Appeal followed the dismissal of his claim by two High Court judges in January. Lord Justice Richards, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London, today rejected an application by Mr George for permission to challenge the January decision.

He announced that the 53-year-old - who was present in court for the ruling - had "no realistic prospects" of success on appeal. Barry George spent eight years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of Jill Dando Barry George claimed he deserved money as a victim of a "miscarriage of justice" Mr George went to the High Court seeking a reconsideration of his case which could have opened the way for him to claim an award for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment. It was argued on his behalf that the decision to refuse compensation was "defective and contrary to natural justice". But Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin ruled that he had "failed the legal test" to receive an award. The judges said it was ­reasonable to convict him on the basis of the ­available ­evidence at the time of ­Dando’s murder. Mr George was originally convicted of Miss Dando's murder in 2001 after a gun discharge particle found in his coat matched samples on Miss Dando. After his conviction in July 2001, Mr George, of Fulham, was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008.

Miss Dando was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, west London, in April 1999 – no one else has been ­convicted over the shooting of the Crimewatch presenter. Most read in UK Barry George loses compensation bid for being wrongly convicted of Jill Dando's murder | Daily Mail Online comments Barry George was today denied compensation for the eight years he spent in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando. He claimed to be the victim of a 'miscarriage of justice' - but judges agreed with a minister that Mr George was 'not innocent enough' to be eligible for a pay-off. The decision at the Court of Appeal followed the dismissal of his compensation claim by two High Court judges in January who said he had 'failed the legal test' to claim a pay-off.

Scroll down for video Defeat: Barry George, left, has been denied compensation for being wrongly convicted of killing Jill Dando, right Setback: A judge at the Court of Appeal decided that he was 'not innocent enough' to be compensated Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin had rejected his argument that the Justice Secretary was wrong to decide he was 'not innocent enough to be compensated', ruling that the Secretary of State was 'entirely justified in the conclusion he reached'. Lord Justice Richards, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London, today rejected an application by Mr George for permission to challenge the January decision and said the 53-year-old had 'no realistic prospects' of success. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Mr George was seeking a fresh examination of his case which could allow him to claim up to £500,000 from the State for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment. Miss Dando, the presenter of Crimewatch, was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, West London, in April 1999. Mr George was convicted of murdering her in 2001, but was acquitted after a retrial in 2008.

Victim: Miss Dando's real killer has never been identified after Mr George was acquitted of murder in 2008 BARRY GEORGE'S FIVE-YEAR FIGHT FOR COMPENSATION Barry George has been seeking compensation from the State ever since he was acquitted of Jill Dando's murder in August 2008. His initial claim was rejected in January 2010, but he launched a challenge to that decision based on a landmark Supreme Court ruling granting Andrew Adams compensation for the 14 years he spent in jail after being wrongfully convicted of murder. That case hinged on Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which says that victims of a 'miscarriage of justice' should be compensated by the State. However, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke told Mr George that his case did not qualify, because he was 'not innocent enough to be compensated'. In January this year, two High Court judges agreed with Mr Clarke, denying him compensation because his conviction was not so unfair as to count as a miscarriage of justice.

Mr George's lawyer had argued that 'no reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted on the evidence that was available to them', but the High Court judges concluded that this was incorrect and that a jury could reasonably have found him guilty. The decision at the Appeal Court today means that Mr George cannot challenge the High Court's decision any longer. After today's ruling, his sister Michelle Diskin said outside the Royal Courts of Justice that the Court of Appeal judge's decision was a 'travesty of justice'. With her brother standing by her side, she told reporters: 'There never was any viable evidence against Barry. 'This whole case from April 2000 until today has been a smoke and mirrors exercise designed to placate a worried public, and give the impression that justice had been done. 'Well neither the Dando family, nor our family, has seen any justice in the past 13 years.' She added: 'Serving eight years in prison for someone else's crime is not acceptable. 'Everything was taken from this man when the police started what we believe to be a malicious prosecution.

He lost his home, his furniture, his clothing and all of his possessions, his place within his community and his church family.' Ms Diskin said the family would prepare to 'stand against this latest travesty of justice'. She concluded: 'Barry is innocent. He deserves a financial settlement to compensate for all that was taken from him - everything he owned and eight years of his life.' During today's hearing Ian Glen QC, representing Mr George free of charge, submitted that the prosecution case against him was 'not viable and not a case where a reasonable jury could have convicted'. In arguing for permission to appeal, Mr Glen said: 'We seek an opportunity to make out our argument to the Secretary of State that no reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted on the evidence that was available to them at the retrial'. But the High Court judges concluded: 'There was indeed a case upon which a reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted the claimant of murder.' Scene of the crime: Miss Dando was gunned down outside her home in Fulham, pictured Mr George's initial claim for compensation for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment was rejected in January 2010.

His legal challenge against that decision was put on hold until after a panel of nine Supreme Court justices gave their ruling in the case of Andrew Adams - a former aircraft engineer who spent 14 years in jail before his murder conviction was ruled unsafe. After the Adams ruling, Mr George was told by the Justice Secretary in June 2011 that he was still not entitled to compensation under Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. In January the High Court judges rejected Mr George's challenge along with three others, but they found in favour of Ian Lawless, who spent eight years behind bars for murder before being freed by the Court of Appeal in 2009. Mr Lawless was jailed for life in 2002 after confessing to the murder of retired sea captain Alf Wilkins on the Yarborough estate in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The judges ruled that in his case the decision to refuse compensation was legally flawed and must be reconsidered in the light of their ruling.

In Mr George's case the two High Court judges said: 'There was indeed a case upon which a reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted the claimant of murder.' Permission to appeal has previously been granted in the three other cases dismissed by the High Court and a hearing at the Court of Appeal relating to those is expected in October. Barry George in protest over compensation rules - BBC News BBC News Barry George in protest over compensation rules 23 February 2015 Close share panel Media captionBarry George spent eight years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of Jill Dando's murder Barry George, the man wrongfully convicted of the murder of Jill Dando, has told the BBC that a decision not to award him compensation is "a mockery of justice". He is among four men protesting in London on Monday against a tightening of the criteria for compensation in so-called "miscarriage of justice" cases. Mr George says he "lost everything" while serving eight years in prison. The MoJ said only people who proved their innocence could get compensation.

Mr George was convicted of murdering Jill Dando in 2001 but was acquitted of the killing at a retrial in 2008 after doubt was cast on the reliability of gunshot residue evidence. His family has tried and failed twice to get compensation for him and are now campaigning for a change in the law. 'Hugely damaged' Mr George, along with three other men who have had their convictions quashed - Victor Nealon, Martin Foran and James Boyle - will protest later outside a global law summit taking place in central London. The government introduced new legislation in 2014 which made changes to the compensation scheme, creating a statutory definition of what constitutes a "miscarriage of justice". Now compensation is only paid when the court quashes a conviction because a new fact has emerged to show beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant did not commit the offence. In an interview with Radio 5 live Breakfast, Mr George's sister Michelle Bates said: "In the British justice system you are innocent until proven guilty. "To say that Barry should prove his innocence after his conviction was quashed is ridiculous. There is no court in the land where you can prove your innocence.

"When you've had your whole life ripped to shreds, and you have been so hugely damaged just from being in the environment of a prison, you come out and there is no assistance given to you, no counselling. "You have to find a way to build a life from the ashes of what you had." Image caption Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London, in April 1999 Mr George described being harassed and "hounded" by the police and media since his release from prison. "Not one police officer has come to my knowledge to my family or my legal team and said, 'We're sorry, there was a tragic mistake, we pursued the wrong person,'" he said. He said that while he was in prison all his possessions were taken from his flat and nothing was ever returned. He said: "I've never received a penny - absolutely nothing. If they're not going to pay you compensation for the many years they take from you, what does that say for the criminal justice system?

"It makes a mockery of justice." A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Although it would normally be inappropriate to comment on an individual's application for compensation, our decision to not grant compensation to the named individual was confirmed as correct by the Divisional Court in 2013." The Metropolitan Police said the Jill Dando murder case remained unsolved but any new information would be thoroughly examined. 'Not innocent enough to be compensated': Barry George loses legal battle for compensation over wrongful conviction for Jill Dando's murder | The Independent 'Not innocent enough to be compensated': Barry George loses legal battle for compensation over wrongful conviction for Jill Dando's murder 53-year-old was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008 Tuesday 9 July 2013 10:31 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Barry George was wrongly convicted of murdering newsreader Jill Dando in 2001 PA/Rex Features The man wrongly convicted of murdering television presenter Jill Dando has lost his legal battle for compensation. Barry George spent eight years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of killing the Crimewatch presenter in April 1999.

In August 2008, Mr George was acquitted of the crime. The latest legal move, in which Mr George demanded compensation as a victim of a “'miscarriage of justice”, followed the dismissal of his claim by two High Court judges in January. Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin had rejected his claim that the Justice Secretary unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated". They ruled that the Secretary of State was "entirely justified in the conclusion he reached". Lord Justice Richards, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London, today rejected an application by Mr George for permission to challenge the January decision. He announced that the 53-year-old - who was present in court for the ruling - had "no realistic prospects" of success on appeal. Mr George went to the High Court seeking a reconsideration of his case which could have opened the way for him to claim an award of up to £500,000 for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment. It was argued on his behalf that the decision to refuse compensation was "defective and contrary to natural justice". But Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin ruled that he had "failed the legal test" to receive an award.

Miss Dando was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, west London, in April 1999. After his conviction in July 2001, Mr George, of Fulham, was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008. After today's ruling, Mr George's sister Michelle Diskin said outside the Royal Courts of Justice that the Court of Appeal judge's decision was a "travesty of justice". With her brother standing by her side, she told reporters: "There never was any viable evidence against Barry. "This whole case from April 2000 until today has been a smoke and mirrors exercise designed to placate a worried public, and give the impression that justice had been done. "Well neither the Dando family, nor our family, has seen any justice in the past 13 years." Ms Diskin said: "We are extremely disappointed with today's decision and will need to go away and regroup to decide what to do next. We cannot let this go unchallenged. "Serving eight years in prison for someone else's crime is not acceptable.

"Everything was taken from this man when the police started what we believe to be a malicious prosecution. "He lost his home, his furniture, his clothing and all of his possessions, his place within his community and his church family." She went on: "How did this unjust legal system expect him to start his life over? He can never get back everything that was taken from him. "He has had to rely on his pensioner mother, now deceased, on me, and on the Miscarriages of Justice Support Services, who help those poor, wrongly convicted souls to move back into society. "This Government-appointed body recognised that Barry is a miscarriage of justice. They do not work with offenders." Ms Diskin said the family would prepare to "stand against this latest travesty of justice". She concluded: "Barry is innocent. He deserves a financial settlement to compensate for all that was taken from him - everything he owned and eight years of his life." Additional reporting Press Association Close We've noticed that you are using an ad blocker. Advertising helps fund our journalism and keep it truly independent. It helps to build our international editorial team, from war correspondents to investigative reporters, commentators to critics.

Click here to view instructions on how to disable your ad blocker, and help us to keep providing you with free-thinking journalism - for free. Thank you for your support. How to disable your ad blocker for independent.co.uk Adblock / Adblock Plus Click the Adblock/Adblock Plus icon, which is to the right of your address bar. On Adblock click "Don't run on pages on this domain". On Adblock Plus click "Enabled on this site" to disable ad blocking for the current website you are on. If you are in Firefox click "disable on independent.co.uk". Firefox Tracking Protection If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may cause the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar. Ghostery In versions before 6.0 click "whitelist site". In version 6.0 click "trust site" or add independent.co.uk to your Trusted Site list. In versions before 6.0 you will see the message "Site is whitelisted". Click "reload the page to see your changes". uBlock Click the uBlock icon.

Then click the big power button to whitelist the current web site, and its state will be remembered next time you visit the web site. Then reload the page. Thank you for supporting independent.co.uk Continue to our site Barry George launches compensation test case for being wrongly convicted of Jill Dando's murder and spending eight years in prison | The Independent Barry George launches compensation test case for being wrongly convicted of Jill Dando's murder and spending eight years in prison Wednesday 17 October 2012 16:33 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Barry George was wrongly convicted of murdering newsreader Jill Dando in 2001 PA/Rex Features The man vilified as Jill Dando’s killer until his conviction was quashed launched a test case for compensation today. Barry George, 52, who spent eight years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of the TV presenter, is seeking a High Court ruling that could open the way for him to claim an award of up to £500,000.

His case is one of five assembled for senior judges to decide who is now entitled to payments in “miscarriages of justice” cases following a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in May 2011 which ruled that merely quashing a conviction could not be a trigger for compensation. At the beginning of the three-day hearing, Ian Glen QC, appearing for Mr George, said the decision to deny compensation was “defective and contrary to natural justice” and a breach of the right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Miss Dando, 37, was shot dead outside her home in Fulham in April 1999 and two years later Mr George was convicted. The significance of evidence relating to a “firearms discharge” particle found in a pocket of one of his coats was called into question following a review and the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2007. After the former BBC messenger was found not guilty during a retrial in 2008, the Crown Prosecution Service said he “had the right to be regarded as innocent”.

But yesterday Mr Glen told the court that since the Supreme Court decision his client’s case for compensation had been reconsidered and rejected, adding: “a functionary working for the Ministry of Justice has decided that Barry George is not innocent enough of murder to be compensated”. Barry George loses compensation case - BBC News BBC News Barry George loses compensation case 25 January 2013 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Image caption Mr George was first convicted in 2001 but an Old Bailey retrial took place in 2008 Barry George, wrongly convicted of the murder of BBC TV presenter Jill Dando, has lost a bid for compensation. His case followed a Supreme Court ruling that widened the circumstances under which compensation could be paid. But the High Court ruled he did not qualify because jurors could still reasonably have convicted him despite new evidence that led to his acquittal. Three other men also failed in similar cases but a fifth was successful and will have his case reconsidered. 'Flawed' decision In May 2011 the Supreme Court redefined the legal meaning of what amounted to a miscarriage of justice. Analysis By Danny ShawHome affairs correspondent, BBC News Innocent until proven guilty, right?

Not when it comes to compensation claims for people whose convictions have been quashed - the government sets a very high bar. In essence, the wrongfully convicted have to show there's no existing evidence on which they could be found guilty - or that they are "clearly innocent". Unless all the key evidence in the case has been demolished at their appeal they're unlikely to succeed. Those who have had a retrial, after their conviction was overturned, will also probably lose out. The grounds were widened a little by the Supreme Court in May 2011, which gave renewed hope to Barry George that his damages claim might succeed. But the High Court's decision has closed the door - unless the Supreme Court justices can be persuaded to reconsider the issues. Previously, compensation was only awarded for a miscarriage of justice if a claimant could effectively prove they were innocent. But the nine Supreme Court judges widened this by saying that if a person could prove that no set of circumstances could possibly lead to their conviction by a jury, they could get compensation.

Ian Glen QC, appearing for Mr George, 52, who spent eight years in prison before being cleared in 2008 after a retrial, had argued that the decision to refuse damages to a maximum of £500,000 was "defective and contrary to natural justice". He said that despite Mr George's unanimous acquittal by a jury at his retrial, the Ministry of Justice had unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated". But for more than 30 years those acquitted on retrials in similar circumstances had been compensated, said Mr Glen. Not to treat Mr George's acquittal as a miscarriage of justice "went behind the decision of the jury that acquitted him" and failed to take account of the fact that no safe conviction could ever be based on the evidence against him, the QC said. But the High Court judges Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin said: "There was indeed a case upon which a reasonable jury properly directed could have convicted the claimant of murder." Unsafe conviction Mr George's lawyers indicated they would seek to appeal to the Supreme Court - a so-called "leapfrog" appeal.

Nicholas Baird, said Mr George and his family were "terribly disappointed" and wanted to "reflect" on the judgment before making any comment. Miss Dando, 37, was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London, in April 1999. Mr George was convicted in 2001 but an Old Bailey retrial took place in 2008 after doubt was cast on the reliability of gunshot residue evidence. But the case brought by Ian Lawless, jailed for eight years for murder before being freed by the Court of Appeal in 2009, was successful. Mr Lawless was jailed for life in 2002 after confessing to the murder of retired sea captain Alf Wilkins on the Yarborough estate in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. His trial heard he had made various "confessions" to third parties, including regulars in a pub and a taxi driver. But in 2009, his conviction was ruled unsafe after fresh medical evidence revealed he had a "pathological need for attention". The High Court judges ruled that in his case the decision to refuse compensation was legally flawed and must be reconsidered in the light of their judgement.

The other three cases which failed were: Justin Tunbridge was sentenced to nine months in prison in 1995 for two counts of indecently assaulting a woman. His case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice, which found fresh evidence relating to the credibility of the prosecution case. Conviction quashed in 2008 Kevin Dennis was convicted in 2000 of the murder of a man in an Ealing nightclub with his two brothers and another man. His appeal was granted on the basis the evidence of the expert witness on CCTV images could no longer be relied on. The murder conviction was quashed in March 2004 and a retrial held in 2005, but he was acquitted by direction of the judge Ismail Ali was convicted of actual bodily harm (ABH) against his wife and sentenced to a year in prison in June 2007. His conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in November 2008 based on new evidence from a series of recorded telephone conversations, which Mr Ali said were between the couple Another 11 cases were awaiting Friday's landmark ruling.

Barry George loses compensation battle for eight years in prison after wrongful conviction for Jill Dando's murder - Mirror Online News Barry George loses compensation battle for eight years in prison after wrongful conviction for Jill Dando's murder Mr George had hoped for up to £500,000 after a jury cleared him at his retrial because of doubts about gunshot residue evidence Share Appeal: Barry George and (inset) Jill Dando (Photo: PA) Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email The man wrongly convicted of shooting dead TV presenter Jill Dando will get no compensation for spending eight years in jail. Barry George had hoped for up to £500,000 after a jury cleared him at his retrial because of doubts about gunshot residue evidence. But today the Court of Appeal said he could not challenge a High Court ruling in January to refuse him cash. Barry George’s sister Michelle Diskin condemned the decision as a “travesty of justice”. Standing beside him outside the Royal Courts of Justice she said bitterly: “We cannot let this go unchallenged. "Serving eight years for someone else’s crime is not acceptable.

"Everything was taken from this man ... he lost his home, all of his possessions and his place in his community.” She declared: “Barry is innocent. He deserves a financial settlement.” Miss Dando, 37, was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, West London, in April 1999. Mr George, 53, also from Fulham, was convicted of her murder in 2001 but cleared at his retrial in August 2008. The High Court had ruled that although Mr George was finally cleared, the evidence was there for “a reasonable jury” to convict him.

Video Loading Barry George loses compensation bid over Jill Dando conviction Judges rule that man wrongly convicted of BBC presenter's murder is not entitled to miscarriage of justice payout<p>Barry George, the man wrongly convicted of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, is not entitled to compensation, the high court has ruled in a judgment that may affect scores of miscarriage of justice cases.</p><p>Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin, upheld decisions by ministers to stop George – and three other men who were freed from prison – getting payment for their time in jail.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Barry George loses compensation bid over Jill Dando conviction Judges rule that man wrongly convicted of BBC presenter's murder failed legal test to receive payout as victim of a miscarriage of justice<p>Barry George, who spent eight years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, has lost his high court bid for compensation as a victim of a miscarriage of justice.</p><p>Two judges rejected his claim that the justice secretary unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated".</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder What happens when

 successful TV shows outlive their creators and stars?

As 56 Up director Michael Apted prepares to hand over the baton, which shows have outshone their original formats<p>There's a tradition in sport known as "retiring the shirt", in which the squad number worn by a particularly influential player is taken out of circulation: in American basketball, the vest in question will sometimes be symbolically raised into the rafters above the court. A similar issue arises in TV when a format becomes connected with particular personnel and the dilemma is represented twice in next week's schedules.</p><p>While promoting <a href="" title="">the return of 56 Up</a> (Monday, 9pm, ITV1), director Michael Apted showed commendable lack of ego and squeamishness, in addressing a sensitive technical question.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Television Miscarriage of justice: supreme court to rule on its true meaning Millions of pounds in compensation for people wrongfully convicted hinges on decision by nine judges<p>Britain's most senior judges will decide this week whether hundreds of people whose wrongful convictions have been quashed by the court of appeal are truly innocent.

In a landmark ruling, the supreme court will define the meaning of a miscarriage of justice and decide when individuals are entitled to official compensation.</p><p>Millions of pounds in compensation are at stake in a case triggered by government refusal over the last five years to pay financial redress to victims of miscarriages of justice, many of whom have spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> UK supreme court Criminal cases review commission: the last bastion of hope Inside the independent body set up to investigate miscarriages of justice after the court of appeal has thrown them out<p>The view from Alpha Tower, the looming skyscraper that is home to the criminal cases review commission, stretches from the knotted mess of Spaghetti Junction to the open wilds of the Malvern Hills.</p><p>But behind the closed doors of the CCRC's glass-walled office, where the case of a young man who claims he was wrongly convicted of raping his sister is being considered, all eyes are focused on a single sheet of paper.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> UK criminal justice Jill Dando murder: Barry George wins boost in compensation fight Man who spent eight years behind bars but was then

 acquitted of Jill Dando's murder wins favourable decision in the high court<p>Barry George, who was acquitted of <a href="" title="">the murder of the television presenter Jill Dando</a> after spending eight years in prison, won the first round of a legal battle today to win compensation.</p><p>A high court judge in London gave George, 50, the go-ahead to challenge a prior decision that he is not entitled to compensation.

But he may have to wait until next year for further developments.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Barry George wins libel damages from News of the World and the Sun Barry George, acquitted of killing Jill Dando, receives apology from News Group Newspapers over series of stories<p>Barry George, <a href="" title="the man acquitted at a retrial of killing Jill Dando">the man acquitted at a retrial of killing Jill Dando</a>, has won substantial damages and an apology from the publisher of the Sun and News of the World over a series of articles suggesting that he was responsible for the killing and was a stalker.</p><p>George was in the high court today to hear his barrister read a statement outlining how the News of the World had made up a quote from him in which he suggested he could not have killed Dando because he was stalking another woman at the time.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> News UK Cleared Dando suspect Barry George challenges surveillance order • He wants court to free him from monitoring <br />• Risk remains, say police, despite 2008 acquittal<p>Barry George, the man acquitted at a retr

ial of killing the BBC television presenter Jill Dando, is making an unprecedented legal challenge to stop the authorities keeping a watch on his movements.</p><p>George, 48, begins a legal case in the high court against the Metropolitan police, claiming his human rights are being breached because he is the subject of a multi-agency public protection arrangement (Mappa).

The arrangements, which involve the police, probation service, prison service and local authorities, are designed to protect the public from sexual and violent offenders who are considered to still pose a risk after serving their sentences.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Long-standing UK miscarriages of justice High-profile judicial mistakes, from Barry George's conviction for the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando to the jailing of Judith Ward for the 1973 IRA coach bombing<br /><br />• <a href="" title="One of UK's longest-serving prisoners to be freed">One of UK's longest-serving prisoners to be freed</a><p>• Stefan Kiszko served 16 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the 1975 murder of the schoolgirl Lesley Molseed in West Yorkshire. He was freed on appeal in 1992. Later, Ronald Castree's DNA was found to match samples taken from semen on the 11-year-old's clothes. He was jailed for life for the murder in 2007.</p><p>• Stephen Downing was jailed for 27 years for beating to death the typist Wendy Sewell in Bakewell.

His conviction was quashed in 2002 after a campaign by the then editor of the Matlock Mercury, Don Hale, who said Downing had been interviewed without legal representation and his signed confession had been written by a police officer.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Crime Jill Dando murder: Police investigate Serbian hitman theory TV presenter may have been killed in revenge for Nato air strike on Belgrade<p>Police investigating the murder of Jill Dando, the BBC television presenter, are said to be examining new evidence that she may have been killed by a Serbian hitman in revenge for a Nato air strike on Belgrade in 1999.</p><p>The Sunday Times <a href="" title="">reported yesterday</a> that several witnesses saw a man claim in a Belgrade bar in 2001 that the 1999 killing was a revenge attack before he took a bow and applause for the killing.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Crime Frank Fisher: When a conspiracy is the simple solution Lone assassin explanations are seen as the rational alternative to conspiracies.

But in the case of Jill Dando, the normal pattern is turned upside down<p>Barry George is a weirdo – that's okay, I can say it, as it formed a key part of the successful defence in his retrial for the murder of Jill Dando. Unintelligent, a fantasist, a braggart, something of a sex pest too and not subtle about it – no one seems to have ever denied this. Yet apparently, for eight years, the Metropolitan Police also believed he was something of a criminal mastermind. <br> <br><a href="">Charlie Brooker</a> gleefully and confidently assaults 9/11 "troofers" in his record-breaking Cif thread, but the core arguments against conspiracies in most high-profile cases – 9/11, JFK, Oklahoma City - work against a lone nut theory in the Jill Dando killing, and always did.

<br> <br>The police are playing their usual game right now – hinting they're not considering any other suspects, revealing convictions and suspicions that were not put in front of the jury – suggesting with nods and winks that, regardless of the verdict, they know who did the deed.<br> <br>Their misplaced confidence was absurd from day one. There is not one chance in a billion that Barry George killed Jill Dando, and the Met must always have known this. I'll focus on just one aspect of the crime, but it's enough to prove the fragility of the overall police case.<br> <br>From the moment a brass cartridge case that once held the bullet that killed Dando was found, it was certain that whoever killed her was either a gunsmith himself, or had access to specialist weapons-making facilities – and it was a strong possibility that the killer hailed from Eastern Europe. The cartridge, a Remmington .380 casing, had been opened, and propellant removed to reduce the crack of a gunshot – then crimped back onto the slug, a 9mm round, creating a custom-built, low-powered, composite round.

An old <a href="">NKVD</a> trick apparently, dating from Stalin's days. This simple fact instantly ruled out someone like George acting alone. He could not have prepared the ammunition himself, at no stage were the police able to link him to any facilities where he may have been able to do it, they were never able to connect him to a illegal firearms trader and were unable to turn up the weapon – or even suggest what kind of weapon it was, with any plausibility.<br> <br>Based purely on the ammunition, and the fact that the bullet bore no rifling marks, the police announced that a modified automatic, or reactivated inert automatic, drilled through, must have fired the round. Yet the case carried no extractor marks – the indentations, fairly distinctive for each type of gun, left on the case by the ejector mechanism of an automatic pistol or rifle. That means that it hadn't been ejected, which means it was not fired from an automatic pistol, which means the weapon used cannot have been of the type claimed by police. Rather, this was a custom device, possibly handmade.

And this weapon, the police theory had it, would have been built by a man with no access to the necessary machinery, no history of engineering at all, who couldn't even drive and apparently has trouble doing up his buttons.<br> <br>There are two kinds of weapon that could have fired the shot that killed Jill Dando – both specialist devices, neither of them ever mentioned by the police. The first, a zip gun, is the most basic firearm in current use. A street gang or prison weapon, it's essentially two tubes sliding over each other, with a nail or steel rod welded to the base of one, to strike a cartridge held in place at the bottom of the other. Sometimes spring-loaded and sometimes purely manual, it's a clumsy and awkward weapon, and most street-built examples can only be operated with two hands.<br> <br>Witnesses described a tall man dressed in dark clothing, perhaps a black suit, carrying a large mobile phone.

He, or someone very like him, was placed outside Dando's home, in her street, walking away from her garden immediately after the shooting, along with several other men and the famous blue Range Rover that was once a key target for the police investigation, and was then rapidly forgotten when it didn't fit their theory.<br> <br>He was carrying a large mobile phone. A gun, the police said – the witnesses must have been mistaken. But what if the witnesses weren't half-blind simpletons the police suggest? What if they saw exactly what they said they saw? What if they saw a man holding <a href="">this</a>?<br> <br>Covert handguns disguised as mobile phones, generally firing a .22 or 9mm round, have been found all over Europe – but they all appear to be manufactured in the same place, the former Yugoslavia. You can tell where I'm going with this can't you?<br> <br>The police theory – the "rational" theory – suggests a man with an IQ of 75 carried out such a killing, alone, and perfectly. It simply isn't credible, and it never was.

The only credible theory is a that of a professional assassination, carried out on behalf of either a criminal organisation, angered by Dando's work on Crimewatch, or perhaps on behalf of someone else.</p><p>This is the conspiracy theory – and yet it is the simplest option. The only question is who ordered the hit? People point to Crimewatch, but like the rest of the British media, they don't really "do" organised crime. Did Crimewach ever take down a gangland boss? And is it credible to suggest some poor bugger swindling widows out of their savings took revenge from his prison cell? I don't think so. So we turn to the other option.<br> <br>Chances are every state has people to deal with individuals they want removed. We don't know if our own country does, but with some nations, we know they have assassinated people in the recent past.

Countries like, well, Serbia for instance.<br> <br>Add the fact that callers to the BBC after the killing claimed it on behalf of Serbia, that presenters such as John Humphrys were also threatened because of their perceived support for the Kosovan cause, and the Serbian connection must look credible.<br> <br>So why did the police focus on Barry George? <br> <br>Who knows. But I can guess. The Serbian theory posits revenge as the motive. Revenge for Clinton and Blair's illegal Kosovo war, but specifically for the war crime <a href="">perpetrated</a> by British and US forces in the early hours of April 23 1999, when Nato missiles smashed into the headquarters of Radio and Television Serbia <a href=" ">killing</a> 16 broadcasting staff.<br> <br>We bombed their state broadcaster – claiming it was a legitimate target as it propagandised for their side – and they struck back, so the theory goes. The BBC had presented hours of footage backing wholeheartedly the Nato line that Milosevic was a new Hitler, that "humanitarian intervention" was essential.

Dando, no doubt in good faith, broadcast an appeal on behalf of the Kosovan refugees. That's more than enough motive.<br> <br>More of a motive than police ever suggested for Barry George. But not really a motive anyone in the UK establishment would want to talk up.<br> <br>Perhaps I'm being cynical – maybe the original police investigation really did think that the Serb theory, even though it fitted the facts, was not credible. But why might that be? Because it was a conspiracy theory?

When even positing a conspiracy is enough to bring ridicule, might they actually have jettisoned the idea because of embarrassment?<br> <br>While it makes sense, as Charlie Brooker suggests, to try to remain close to planet Earth at all times, and not to drift too wildly on the seas of invention, it also makes sense to evaluate fairly all possibilities, especially those that fit the known facts, regardless of how fantastic those possibilities then become.</p><p>When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains – however improbable – must be the truth.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Duncan Campbell: The days of miscarriages of justice are far from over Barry George's acquittal reminds us that the days of miscarriages of justice are far from over<p>Never assume. Those should be the two words tattooed on the forearms of all journalists and police officers when they join their chosen professions. How tempting it is, when all the evidence seems to point in a particular direction, to assume.

Now, with the case of Barry George, freed after spending eight years in prison for the killing of BBC presenter Jill Dando, we are reminded once more of the dangers of assuming.</p><p>On the face of it, George fitted all our preconceptions of the sort of person who could have killed Dando. He had a history of stalking women in the neighbourhood; he was obsessed with celebrity, fantasising relationships for himself with famous people; he had previous convictions for attempted rape and indecent assault; he had a fascination with guns; he boasted of being in the SAS; he had apparently tried to construct an alibi for himself for the day of the murder; people had apparently seen someone matching his description close to the murder scene; his interview with the police was rambling and incoherent.

When forensic scientists found a speck of what seemed to be firearms residue in his pocket, it appeared to the police that this was the final piece of the jigsaw.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Barry George sells his story to a newspaper for five-figure sum <strong>&#183;</strong> Barry George sells story to paper for five-figure sum<br /><strong>&#183;</strong> Free man apologises to women for past behaviour<p>Barry George said yesterday that he could not have killed Jill Dando because he was stalking another woman at the time. </p><p>George, who was acquitted of the murder of the BBC television presenter, also claimed that the photo of a man in a mask and brandishing a gun found at his flat and widely published was not him.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder How Susan Young stood by Barry George and helped him survive The man acquitted on Friday of killing Jill Dando has complex mental health difficulties which would have made a fair trial almost impossible.

Jamie Doward speaks to pioneering psychologist Susan Young about her role throughout his eight-year legal battle<p>In his first precious moments of freedom, on a day he believed would never come, Barry George was terrified. Bundled into a taxi outside the Old Bailey within minutes of Friday's unanimous acquittal verdict, George was incapable of speech. </p><p>Wide-eyed and sallow-faced, he struggled to take in the fact that after eight years he was a free man. And not just free, but cleared of one of the most notorious murders in recent history.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Barry George's sister, Michelle Diskin, has played an important part in clearing his name <p>Barry George's sister, Michelle Diskin, has played perhaps the most important part in the effort to clear his name. Without her persistence in seeking the best legal advice and without her support during his seven years in prison, it is unlikely that George would be celebrating his freedom.</p><p>As the jury foreman returned a not guilty verdict yesterday afternoon, she mouthed a "thank you" at them.

She was almost speechless as she took in the news but was able to say she was "thrilled" by the verdict.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Jill Dando murder Jill Dando murder | UK news | The Guardian Jill Dando murder Court of appeal says justice secretary was justified not to compensate man wrongly convicted of TV presenter's murder Published: 9 Jul 2013 Mark Lawson: As 56 Up director Michael Apted prepares to hand over the baton, which shows have outshone their original formats Published: 10 May 2012 Britain's top judges rule that Northern Irish pair who suffered miscarriage of justice are entitled to compensation Published: 11 May 2011 Millions of pounds in compensation for people wrongfully convicted hinges on decision by nine judges Published: 8 May 2011 Inside the independent body set up to investigate miscarriages of justice after the court of appeal has thrown them out Published: 30 Mar 2011 Man who spent eight years behind bars but was then acquitted of Jill Dando's murder wins favourable decision in the high court Published: 25 Aug 2010 Barry George, acquitted of killing Jill Dando

, receives apology from News Group Newspapers over series of stories.

By Sandra Laville Published: 16 Dec 2009 Unprecedented legal challenge to stop the authorities keeping a watch on his movements Published: 29 Nov 2009 High-profile judicial mistakes, from Barry George's conviction for the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando to the jailing of Judith Ward for the 1973 IRA coach bombing Published: 18 Mar 2009 TV presenter may have been killed in revenge for Nato air strike on Belgrade Published: 23 Feb 2009 When a conspiracy is the simple solution Frank Fisher Frank Fisher: Lone assassin explanations are seen as the rational alternative to conspiracies. But in the case of Jill Dando, the normal pattern is turned upside down Published: 4:00 AM Police face prospect of combing 2,500 witness statements for new clues following Barry George's acquittal Published: 7:01 PM Barry George has sold his story to paper for five-figure sum and apologised to women for his past behaviour.

By Duncan Campbell Published: 7:01 PM Assume nothing Duncan Campbell Duncan Campbell: Barry George's acquittal reminds us that the days of miscarriages of justice are far from over Published: 7:01 PM Barry George in protest over compensation rules - YouTube Barry George in protest over compensation rules Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Feb 23, 2015 Barry George, the man wrongfully convicted of the murder of Jill Dando, has told the BBC that a decision not to award him compensation is "a mockery of justice". He is among four men protesting in London on Monday against a tightening of the criteria for compensation in so-called "miscarriage of justice" cases. Mr George says he "lost everything" while serving eight years in prison. The MoJ said only people who proved their innocence could get compensation.

Mr George was convicted of murdering Jill Dando in 2001 but was acquitted of the killing at a retrial in 2008 after doubt was cast on the reliability of gunshot residue evidence. His family has tried and failed twice to get compensation for him and are now campaigning for a change in the law. 'Hugely damaged' Mr George, along with three other men who have had their convictions quashed - Victor Nealon, Martin Foran and James Boyle - will protest later outside a global law summit taking place in central London. The government introduced new legislation in 2014 which made changes to the compensation scheme, creating a statutory definition of what constitutes a "miscarriage of justice". Now compensation is only paid when the court quashes a conviction because a new fact has emerged to show beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant did not commit the offence. In an interview with Radio 5 live Breakfast, Mr George's sister Michelle Bates said: "In the British justice system you are innocent until proven guilty. "To say that Barry should prove his innocence after his conviction was quashed is ridiculous. There is no court in the land where you can prove your innocence.

"When you've had your whole life ripped to shreds, and you have been so hugely damaged just from being in the environment of a prison, you come out and there is no assistance given to you, no counselling. "You have to find a way to build a life from the ashes of what you had." Mr George described being harassed and "hounded" by the police and media since his release from prison. "Not one police officer has come to my knowledge to my family or my legal team and said, 'We're sorry, there was a tragic mistake, we pursued the wrong person,'" he said. He said that while he was in prison all his possessions were taken from his flat and nothing was ever returned. He said: "I've never received a penny - absolutely nothing. If they're not going to pay you compensation for the many years they take from you, what does that say for the criminal justice system?

"It makes a mockery of justice." A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Although it would normally be inappropriate to comment on an individual's application for compensation, our decision to not grant compensation to the named individual was confirmed as correct by the Divisional Court in 2013." The Metropolitan Police said the Jill Dando murder case remained unsolved but any new information would be thoroughly examined. Category

Question: Who was wrongly convicted in 2001 of the murder of Jill Dando?
Answer: Barry George